Offset mounting bracket for a water heater

Abstract

An offset mounting bracket that comprises a primary member and a stabilization member can be used to mount multiple heat engines to a water storage tank. An offset mounting bracket can include a primary member, having a top surface, a bottom surface, an inner surface, and an outer surface. The offset mounting bracket can also have a stabilization member, having a top surface and a bottom surface, a supporting surface that is opposed and connected to the primary member outer surface. The offset mounting bracket can also have a connecting member. The connecting member can be configured to fasten to the top of a water storage tank. There, the offset mounting bracket, can provide a surface to mount a heat engine that otherwise would not fit onto the water storage tank structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A hot water supply system comprising:
 an offset mounting bracket comprising:
 a primary member, having a top surface, a bottom surface, an inner surface, and an outer surface, and at least one connection point on the outer surface, wherein the inner surface and the outer surface extend between the top surface and the bottom surface; 
 a stabilization member, having a top surface and a bottom surface, a supporting surface that is opposed and connected to the primary member outer surface, and a non-supporting surface, wherein the supporting surface and the non-supporting surface extend between the top surface and the bottom surface, and the bottom surface is offset from the primary member bottom surface in a direction that is disposed away from the primary member top surface; 
 a connecting member, having a connection surface, a top surface, a radial surface, and an inner surface, wherein the radial surface and the inner surface extend between the connection surface and the top surface, and wherein the radial surface is opposing and connected to the primary member inner surface and the connection surface is coplanar with the bottom side of the primary member; 
 
 a water storage tank, having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a cylindrical wall that extends between the top surface and the bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface of the connecting member is connected to the top surface of the water storage tank, and the supporting surface of the stabilization member is connected to the cylindrical wall of the water storage tank, 
 wherein the at least one connection point on the outer surface of the primary member is spaced apart from the top surface of the water storage tank in a direction away from the bottom surface of the water storage tank; 
 a first heat engine having a top connector, and a bottom connector, wherein the top connector is connected to the primary member and the bottom connector is connected to the cylindrical wall of the water storage tank; and 
 a second heat engine having a top connector, and a bottom connector, wherein the top connector and the bottom connector are connected to the cylindrical wall of the water storage tank. 
 
     
     
       2. The hot water supply system of  claim 1  further comprising, a lower support bracket having a side surface configured to connect to the cylindrical wall of the water storage tank and having a bottom surface that is configured to be coplanar with a bottom surface of a water storage tank. 
     
     
       3. The hot water supply system of  claim 1 , wherein the first heat engine and the second heat engine are fastened to the primary member and the water storage tank with rivets, bolts, or welds. 
     
     
       4. A hot water supply system comprising:
 an offset mounting bracket comprising:
 a primary member, having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first edge, and a second edge, and at least one connection point disposed between the top edge and the bottom edge, wherein the first edge and the second edge extend between the top edge and the bottom edge; 
 a plurality of structural supports each having a top side that is coplanar with the top edge of the primary member and a fastening side that is coplanar with the bottom edge of the primary member, wherein each of the plurality of structural supports are connected to the first edge and the second edge of the primary member and extend away from the primary member at an angle; 
 a plurality of connecting members, wherein each of the connecting members connect to the fastening side of one of the plurality of structural supports, wherein each of the plurality of connecting members extends away from the first edge and the second edge of the primary member; and 
 
 a water storage tank, having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a cylindrical wall that extends between the top surface and the bottom surface, wherein the plurality of connecting members are connected to the top surface of the water storage tank, 
 wherein the at least one connection point is configured to accept a fastener in a direction substantially perpendicular to the top surface of the water storage tank, 
 a first heat engine fastened to the cylindrical wall of the water storage tank and the primary member, and 
 a second heat engine fastened to the cylindrical wall of the water storage tank. 
 
     
     
       5. The hot water supply system of  claim 4  wherein the primary member, the structural supports, and the connecting members each further comprise at least one fastening hole. 
     
     
       6. The hot water supply system of  claim 4 , wherein the outer surface of the primary member and a supporting surface of the of the structural supports are coplanar. 
     
     
       7. The hot water supply system of  claim 4 , further comprising at least one surface adaptor, comprising a curved surface adapted to conform to the cylindrical wall of the water storage tank and a flat surface adapted to be coupled to a heat engine mount. 
     
     
       8. The hot water supply system of  claim 7 , wherein the surface adaptor is configured to connect a cylindrical object to a planar fastening plane. 
     
     
       9. A hot water supply system comprising:
 an offset mounting bracket comprising:
 a primary member, having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first edge, and a second edge, and at least one connection point disposed between the top edge and the bottom edge, wherein the first edge and the second edge extend between the top edge and the bottom edge; 
 a plurality of structural supports each having a top side that is coplanar with the top edge of the primary member and a fastening side that is coplanar with the bottom edge of the primary member, wherein each of the plurality of structural supports are connected to the first edge and the second edge of the primary member and extend away from the primary member at an angle; 
 a plurality of connecting members, wherein each of the connecting members connect to the fastening side of one of the plurality of structural supports, wherein each of the plurality of connecting members extends away from the first edge and the second edge of the primary member; 
 
 a water storage tank, having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a cylindrical wall that extends between the top surface and the bottom surface, wherein the plurality of connecting members are connected to the top surface of the water storage tank, 
 wherein the at least one connection point is configured to accept a fastener in a direction substantially perpendicular to the top of the water storage tank, 
 at least one surface adaptor, comprising a curved surface adapted to conform to the cylindrical wall of the water storage tank and a flat surface adapted to be coupled to a heat engine mount; and 
 a heat engine having a top connector, and a bottom connector, wherein the top connector is connected to the primary member and the bottom connector is connected to the cylindrical wall of the water storage tank. 
 
     
     
       10. The hot water supply system of  claim 7 , wherein the connecting members is connected to the top surface with at least one bolt, rivet, or weld. 
     
     
       11. The hot water supply system of  claim 7 , further comprising, a lower support bracket having a side surface configured to connect to the cylindrical wall of the water storage tank and having a bottom surface that is configured to be coplanar with the bottom surface of the water storage tank. 
     
     
       12. The hot water supply system of  claim 11  wherein the angle between the side surface and the bottom surface is 90 degrees. 
     
     
       13. The hot water supply system of  claim 7 , wherein the first heat engine and the second heat engine are stacked along a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the water storage tank. 
     
     
       14. The hot water supply system of  claim 7 , wherein the first heat engine and the second heat engine are fastened to the primary member and the water storage tank with rivets, bolts, or welds. 
     
     
       15. The hot water supply system of  claim 7 , wherein the first heat engine is fastened to the primary member directly and fastened to the water storage tank via a surface adaptor. 
     
     
       16. The hot water supply system of  claim 7 , wherein the first heat engine and the second heat engine are tankless water heaters.